An evening with Astronaut James Lovell, Apollo 13 commander

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is proud to present an evening with American Hero and Astronaut James Lovell as part of the 2017 North Carolina Science Festival.

Thursday, April 6

7:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall

Tickets go on sale Monday, March 6, 10 a.m.

Between 1959 and 1975, Morehead was called to serve not only the people of North Carolina but also the nation's burgeoning space program. During this time, nearly every astronaut who participated in the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz programs trained at Morehead in star navigation. Now, the time-honored hero who actually put that knowledge to work in his calm and careful command of Apollo 13 in 1970 is coming back to UNC-Chapel Hill to share his wisdom and stories at a one-time event at Memorial Hall.

Capt. James Lovell stoically articulated the five-word message, “Houston, we have a problem,” which quickly became part of the American lexicon. Through teamwork and decisive leadership, Lovell and his crew modified the lunar module into an effective lifeboat to safely return to Earth. As captain, he was thus transformed into a national hero who has since attracted generations of followers.

During his career, Lovell accumulated over 7,000 flight hours, including 4,500 in jet aircraft, 713 in space and 107 carrier landings. He received numerous medals and awards, including the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two Navy Distinguished Flying Crosses, NASA Distinguished and Exceptional Service Medals and the French Legion of Honor.

The event is for a general audience. Morehead Members will have access to tickets on Friday, March 3, 10 a.m. Ticket prices begin at $18.